In 2018, the world saw Saudi Arabian women take to the streets for the first time in the Kingdom’s history. Women of all ages and from all walks of life drove around their cities celebrating the rescinding of a decades-long ban on female motorists. Following that historic day, many welcomed changes have begun to take over the country, from a plan already underway to provide thousands of job opportunities for women in the country’s driving school sector to women today insisting on wedding contracts that enshrine their right to drive.
According to local news reports, Saudi Arabian women are now seeking legally binding contracts that codify anything from their right to drive, to their right to own a car, own a house, hire a maid, study, or work. Speaking to Gulf News, one Saudi salesman in Damman affirmed this new phenomenon by explaining how he has just begun his wedding preparations when his fiancée who has also asked for her right to drive to be written into their marriage contract.
In a report by Khaleej Times, the 29-year-old groom-to-be actually signed off on two demands from his 21-year-old fiancée: the right to drive and the right to work after marriage, according to the contract he shared. He explained that she has said “she (would) like to be independent," so he replied “sure, why not?” According to clerics interviewed, a breach of wedding conditions such as Majd’s can be used by women as grounds for divorce.
Following the ascension of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to his role in 2017, Saudi Arabia announced the landmark decree to lift the decades-old driving ban on female motorists, a decision that took effect last year in summer. Under the leadership of the young Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia continues to move ahead with Vision 2030, an ambitious plan that is set to transform the Kingdom’s society and economy. From improving the rights of women, to revising laws and creating more job opportunities outside the petroleum sector, Saudi Arabia is already on its path to change.
